The Providence of God How God Takes Care of His People

Lesson 7 The Providence of God In The Lives of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph Purpose in Human Experience

Introduction Unbelievers contend that:   Introduction Unbelievers contend that: Human life is a chance occurrence brought about through an evolutionary process. All human acts occur because of physical antecedents acting on the nervous system. All events take place because of chance or planned acts of human will.

The Bible view of purpose and providence:   The Bible view of purpose and providence: Human life has a reason for its existence and opportunities. God works in the lives of His children to preserve and propagate His kingdom. In the past, God has intervened in human affairs through miracles. In most cases, God has operated through natural events and normal human experience. Through God’s influence, good people are made better, and strong people stronger.

The Providence of God in the Historical narratives of the Old Testament God worked in the lives of individuals who were far from sinless. God used imperfect people to show His glory and carry out His will on earth. The stories of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph are inspiring examples of God’s Providence in the lives of His people. “History is His Story.”

The Providence of God in the Life of Abraham A. Promises made to Abraham I will make of thee a great nation (Gen. 12:2). Unto thy seed will I give this land (Gen. 12:7). In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Gen. 12:3).

The Providence of God in the Life of Abraham B. Unlikely conditions in Abraham’s life for God’s providence to be worked out. Abraham was both childless and aged. How could Abraham, his descendants, and all the families of the earth be blessed? a. Abraham’s obedient faith. b. Special providence of God.

The Providence of God in the Life of Abraham C. God’s promises to Abraham were conditional. “Walk before me and be thou perfect” (Gen. 17:1). “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred…” (Gen. 12:1). “Arise, walk through the land…” (Gen. 13:17). “Look now toward heaven…” (Gen. 15:5). “By faith Abraham obeyed” (Heb. 11:8).

The Providence of God in the Life of Abraham D. God’s promises to Abraham involved the Scheme of Redemption. Isaac was the promised heir (Gen. 21:1-3). Christ was the promised seed (Gal. 3:13-16). a. All the world benefits (Matt. 28:19). b. The redeemed are in Christ, and Abraham’s heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29).

The Providence of God in the Life of Abraham E. Relationship between faith and providence. God’s part in man’s redemption is grace (Eph. 2:8-9). The redeemed are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). Man’s part in the scheme of redemption is obedient faith (Heb. 11: 17-19; James 2:21-22).

The Providence of God in the Life of Esther The name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther. Yet God’s providence is evident here as in few other books.

The Providence of God in the Life of Esther Principle Events 1. The Jews are in captivity in Persia. 2. Queen Vashti displeases the king and is displaced. 3. Esther, Mordecai’s cousin (adopted daughter) is made queen.

The Providence of God in the Life of Esther Principle Events 4. Mordecai saves the king’s life by revealing a plot. 5. Haman becomes jealous of Mordecai and convinces the king to decree the death of all Jews. 6. Mordecai asks Esther (who has not revealed her ethnic background) to plead for her people.

The Providence of God in the Life of Esther Principle Events 7. Esther is received favorably by the king. 8. The king learns that Mordecai saved his life and rewards him (at the hands of Haman). 9. Haman becomes jealous and has a gallows prepared for Mordecai.

The Providence of God in the Life of Esther Principle Events 10. Haman is hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. 11. The Jews take vengeance on their persecutors with the king’s blessings.

The Providence of God in the Life of Esther Key Verses Esther 4:12-14 (God’s plans will unfold with or without our participation.) Esther 4:16 (Compare to attitude of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.) Esther 6:13 (Human opposition will not stop God’s providence.)

Providence or Chance? “…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

Providence or Chance? “For perhaps he was therefore parted from you for a season, that you should have him forever; no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved” (Philemon 15,16).

The Providence of God in the Life of Joseph God used Joseph to bring about an important phase of His Scheme of Redemption. God took the descendants of Abraham into Egypt as promised (Gen. 15:13-16). God preserved an infant nation in time of famine. The Messiah would be a descendant of Joseph.

Chain of Providence in the Life of Joseph Jacob and his family are in Egypt. How did they get there? How was Joseph able to bring his brethren and father to Egypt? How did Joseph become Prime Minister of Egypt? Why did Pharaoh appoint Joseph to be Prime Minister? How had Pharaoh learned that the Spirit of God was in Joseph? How was it that Joseph had come to interpret Pharaoh’s dream?

Chain of Providence in the Life of Joseph 7. How had Pharaoh learned that Joseph could interpret dreams? 8. How was the Butler in a position to give this information to Pharaoh? 9. How did the Butler have the opportunity to learn of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams? 10. How did Joseph happen to be in this particular prison? 11. Why did Potiphar cast Joseph in prison? 12. How did Potiphar’s wife have the opportunity to make a false accusation against Joseph?

Chain of Providence in the Life of Joseph 13. How did it happen that Joseph was in charge of Potiphar’s household? 14. How did Joseph come to belong to Potiphar? 15. How did the Ishmaelites happen to be in possession of Joseph? 16. Why would Joseph’s own brothers want to sell him? 17. Why did the brothers hate Joseph? 18. Why did Joseph’s father have a special love for him?

Chain of Providence in the Life of Joseph 19. How did Jacob happen to know and love Rachel? 20. How did Jacob happen to come to the house of Laban? 21. Why would Esau threaten to kill Jacob? 22. Why would Isaac want his blessing to go to Esau? 23. Why was Isaac partial toward Esau?

Questions about God’s Providence 1 Questions about God’s Providence 1. How many miracles occurred in this story? 2. How was God’s Providence involved in this story? 3. Was God responsible for any of the sins committed in this story?

Lessons from the lives of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph 1. God is the architect of the universe and the grand designer of human history. 2. God is operating at all times to bring His purposes to fruition. 3. God’s providence avails itself of human agency, involving the talents, positons, and opportunities of those through whom He works.

Lessons from the lives of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph 4. We are privileged to live in a period of human history in which the ultimate blessings of God have been made available— something the prophets and even angels yearned to observe (1 Pet. 1:10-12). 5. If we live faithfully, God will help us overcome our hardships, though perhaps not in ways we would plan or predict. 6. We must learn to look beyond the immediate and momentary to the broader picture.

Lessons from the lives of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph 7. We must not confuse the physical blessings received by Abraham, Joseph, Esther, and others with the spiritual blessings that are available today in Christ. 8. While we observe that Abraham and others involved in God’s providential plans often disappoint us as examples of holiness, we must at the same time note that God’s providence allows imperfect people to repent and mature in God’s service. 9. God sometimes overrules in the lives of people, using even their sins as instruments of his providence (Gen. 27:26-30; Rom. 8:28).

Lessons from the lives of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph 10. In light of God’s great providence, our attitude should be, “not my will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42; James 4:15) 11. When we recognize the outworking of God’s providence in our lives, we must not 1) disregard or neglect the opportunity to glorify God; 2) allow fear to rob us of our blessing; or 3) distrust God’s ability to provide. 12. God’s purpose and providence are often evident in the lives of Christians, yet it is dangerous to assume that all events are caused or influenced by divine providence’’--”God led me here;” “God helped me find this job;” “God helped me pass this test.”

Lessons from the lives of Abraham, Esther, and Joseph 13. We must remember that Satan also appears as an angel of light and would deceive the very elect (2 Cor. 11:14; Mark 13:22). 14. We must learn to distinguish between God’s providence and the temptations of Satan (Matt. 4:1-11). 15. We must avoid the temptation to “help God out” by doing things our way instead of God’s way (Gen. 16:1-5).

Angels and the Providence of God Next Lecture: Angels and the Providence of God